TNAG-1379-FCO40-1827-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 61

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The Bill does not deal with the

Joint Liaison Group.

question of who will sit on the

During the parliamentary debate on the

Members of the

agreement there was pressure to include Unofficial

Hong Kong Executive and Legislative Councils on the Group. We took

the line that Hong Kong Government officials would sit on the Group,

and that we would consult fully with Unofficials

in Hong Kong, but

to

that this was a diplomatic body and it would not be appropriate for

Unofficials to sit on it. We can expect pressure for Unofficials

sit on the Group to continue, although strictly speaking it is not

relevant to the Bill.

We might also face questions about the work of the Joint Liaison

Group, and its influence on the administration of Hong Kong. The

working procedures of the Joint Liaison Group remain to be discussed

with the Chinese.

The agreement makes clear, however, that the

Joint Liaison Group is not an organ of power and will play no in Hong Kong's administration.

part

Another suggestion made during the Parliamentary debate was that

Parliament should hold an annual debate on the work of the Joint

Liaison Group. Ministers took the line then and on subsequent occasions that accountability

accountability to Parliament

Parliament is important, as will be

the interest shown in Hong Kong by Parliament itself. But they have

not committed themselves to any set timetable for Parliamentary

debate.

I t is possible that the inclusion of this provision in the Bill

might prompt an attack on the extension of diplomatic privileges and

immunities in general. In response we should make it clear that the

Vienna Convention

is an essential element in the conduct of foreign

relations. Any suggestion that the immunities conferred by the

Convention should be restricted should be considered in light of the vulnerability of many

many British Embassies Overseas in countries which

are hostile towards us or in which the rule of law is not firmly

established.

There was no controversy over this clause in the House of Commons.

CONFIDENTIAL